DE / 02 • WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE COUNTY
BRANDYWINE
CREEK.
Old stone walls, Delaware’s first recognized old-growth forest and the Brandywine running through the middle. The bike-legal miles are limited for now, but Rocky Run packs in steep climbs, roots and rock gardens.
~3.5 MI
Of trail currently open to bikes
952 AC
Of woods, meadows and creek
294 FT
Of climbing on Rocky Run
BLACK
Rocky Run is rated difficult
THE PLACE
STONE WALLS + STEEP CLIMBS.
Brandywine Creek State Park sits along the Brandywine just north of Wilmington. The blue gneiss stone walls that cross the park were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the park includes Tulip Tree Woods, part of Delaware’s first recognized old-growth forest.
The park has about 16.6 miles of trail, but most of it is pedestrian-only. The state’s trail plan lists about 3.5 miles open to bikes today, including Rocky Run, the Brandywine Trail and Longwall, and it calls for opening more shared-use trail over the coming years.
MAIN ENTRANCE
Adams Dam Road
Wilmington, DE
HOURS
Open daily 8 a.m. to sunset.
FEES
$5 per day for Delaware-registered vehicles, $10 for out-of-state. Walking or riding in is free.
CONTACT
Park office: 302-577-3534
THE TRAILS
BIKES ALLOWED HERE.
Stick to trails marked for bikes. Everything else in the park is hikers only.
ROCKY RUN
The main event. Rocky climbs, roots, stream crossings and fast descents on the east side of the park, reached from the Thompson’s Bridge trailhead.
BRANDYWINE TRAIL
A 2.9-mile shared trail along the creek that links the park together.
LONGWALL
About a mile, with roughly 200 ft of climbing per Trailforks.
Bike-legal trails and lengths from the Brandywine Creek State Park Trail Plan; Rocky Run rating from MTB Project. Ratings for the Brandywine Trail and Longwall are our own.
HOW WE RIDE IT
HOW WE RIDE IT.
Start at the Thompson’s Bridge trailhead and ride Rocky Run as a loop: about 2 miles with close to 300 ft of climbing and descending, according to Trailforks. Add the Brandywine Trail along the creek to stretch it out.
Want more? The neighboring Brandywine Valley unit of First State National Historical Park already allows bikes on about 15 miles of trail, and a 2026 federal proposal would designate about 25 miles for bikes.
ON CAMERA
OUR RIDES HERE.
Every video in our
Brandywine playlist.
No rides here yet. Add videos to this trail’s YouTube playlist and run the import.
BEFORE YOU GO
RIDE IT RIGHT.
BIKE-LEGAL ONLY
Most trails here are hikers only. Check the park map and trail signs and stay on the trails marked for bikes.
ROCKS + ROOTS
Rocky Run lives up to its name. Expect steep, rocky climbs and slick roots, especially after rain.
FEES + HOURS
Vehicle fee at the gate, free if you ride in. Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at sunset.
Sources: Delaware State Parks, Brandywine Creek State Park Trail Plan 2022–2032, MTB Project, Trailforks, Federal Register. Conditions and rules change; check the official page before you ride.